Method and means for making capsules



May 7, 1940. o. l. WARING 7 METHOD AND mmns FOR MAKING cAPsUfiEs Filed Nov. 16, 1937 INVENTOR Olaf [War/1y Y E TTORNEY May 7, 1940. o. I. WARING METHOD AND MEANS FOR MAKING CAPSULES Filed Nov. 16, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet. 2

v INVENTOR Olaf]. warm O; LWARING METHOD AND MEANS FOR MAKING CAPSULES May 7, 1940.

. 5 Sheds- Sheet 3 I Filed Nov. 16, 1937 5 'lNVE NTOR Olaf Min/2y BY D A ORI-QEY May 7, 1940. o. I. WAR ING METHOD AND MEANS FOR MAKING CAPSULE S Filed Nov. 16. 1937 s, Sheets-Sheet, 4.

' INVENTOR I OZaf Z Mar/fly ATTORNEY y 7. 1 o. 1. WARING 2.199.425

METHOD AND MEANS FOR MAKING CAPSULES Filed Nov. 16, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet '5 INVENTOR OZaf (Van/ 7 5 AEORNEY Patented May 7, 1940 PATENT OFFICE METHOD AND MEANS FOR MAKING CAPSULES Olaf I. Waring, New York, N. Y., assignor or onehalf to Pincus Rothberg, New York, N. Y.

Application November 16, 1937, Serial No. 174,833

11 Claims.

This invention relates to improved methods of, and apparatus for making capsules filled with m'edicaments or the like substances such as fluids. semi-fluids, or substances in powder, crystalline or granular form.

An objectof this invention is to provide improved means and method for making-capsules filled with oil, fluids, semi-fluids or substances in powder, crystalline or granular form, and having a relatively thin seamless wall which will melt or dissolve quickly to release its contents when taken internally or placed in warm water or when otherwise heated or ruptured, and which shall at the same time be strong enough to permit ordinary handling without rupture.

Another object of this invention is to provide highly improved apparatus of the character described for making a continuous string of connected capsules whereby the portions connect- 4 ing the capsules may be severed to give individual capsules.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a highly improved and economical method of making capsules consisting in extruding cap sule wall forming material, while in a liquidor semi-liquid state, and injecting into. the extruded material at intervals, charges of capsule filling material to form a continuous string of seamless capsules connected by the 'wall forming material and which may be readily cut to separate the capsules from one another.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide apparatus of the character described which shall be relatively inexpensive-to manufacture, simple and positive in operation, and yet practical and efficient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the combination of steps, features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts whichwill be exemplified in the construction and method hereinafter described, and of which the.

the formation of the capsule;

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but showing parts in cross-section, and illustrating a later period in the formation of the capsule;

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of a portion of apparatus for forming capsules filled with powder; and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the capsule forming nozzle of the apparatus shown in Fig. 8, and illustrating one step in the process of the formation of the capsule.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, l0 designates apparatus embodying the invention, for forming and filling seamless capsules l l containing medicaments or. the like materials such powder, pulverized or plastic substances 'ratus has a relatively thin, seamless encasing wall I2 of gelatinous or the like substance.

7 It has suflicient strength to permit ordinary handling without rupture and yet quickly melts, dissolves or ruptures when taken internally or otherwise heated. i

The apparatus Ill forms a continuous string 14 of said capsules ll, connected by portions ii of the encasing material. Said apparatus comprises a vertical frame I! supporting-the various parts of the apparatus described hereinafter. 0n frame I! is an electric motor 18 rotating,through suitable reduction gearing l9, a verticalshaft 20. On shaft 20 is a pulley 2|, and a beveled gear 22. Joumalled on said frame I! is a horizonta1 shaft 23 carrying at one end, a bevel gear 24 meshing with said gear 22, and also carrying, at its other end, a bevel gear 25. Journalled on frame I! is a horizontal shaft 26 perpendicular to the shaft 23 and carrying a bevel gear 21 meshing with gear 25. On shaft 26 is a disc 28 formed with a diametric slot 29 in which is slidably mounted a block 30. The position of block 30 in slot 29 may be adjusted by aligned, diametric screws 3| at opposite ends of the slot.

Fixed to frame l'l, below disc 28, is a pump 38 comprising a member 34 having a vertical through bore 35, provided with a check valve 36 adjacent its lower end to prevent upward flow. Member 34 also has a horizontal passage 31 comlower end of pipe 5| projects.

container 52 is an axial sleeve 68 surrounding municating with bore above said check valve. Screwed to the member 34 at one end of said passage 31 is a nipple 38 provided with a check valve 39.

Within bore 35 is a plunger 48 connected by link 4| to block 38. The stroke of plunger 40 may be regulated by properly adjusting screws 3|.

Supported by frame |1, above disc 28, is a tank 42 or containerfor the material. to form and fill the capsules, such as castor oil or any other plastic or liquid material. A pipe 43 connects the bottom of said tank with check valve 39. Said check valve prevents flow'of filling substances upwardly through pipe 43.

Supported on frame |1, below pump 33 is a vertical bearing 48 rotatably supporting a hollow vertical pipe 41. Said pipe carries a pulley 48 aligned with pulley 2| and connected thereto by belt 49. Detachably attached to the lower end of pipe 41, by coupling 50, is a vertical hollow pipe 5| extending axially through a cylindrical container 52 supported on frame H. The major portion of the pipe 5| within the container 52, is formed with a helical groove 53 whereby said pipe has an external screw thread, for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

At its lower end, pipe 5| has an internal screw threaded portion 54 to which is screwed a nozzle member 55 having an axial through opening 58 of less internal diameter than pipe 5|. Nozzle member 55 has a downwardly converging, outer conical surface 51, a cylindrical surface 58 extending from said conical surface, and a downwardly and outwardly flaring surface 59 extending from said cylindrical surface.

Attachedto pump 33 at the lower end of bore 35, and communicating therewith, is a pipe 63 passing through and telescoping within pipe 5| and nozzle 55 and terminating at the lower end of said nozzle.

Container 52 has a horizontal bottom wall 85 and a vertical cylindricalwall 88. Said bottom wall has a central opening through which the Fixed within the and telescoping with substantially the lower half of pipe 5|. The lower end 69 of sleeve 58 projects through opening 65a and closes said opening. Said lower end 69 of said sleeve has a conical ;portion 10, concentric with conical surface 51,

and a downwardly projecting cylindrical lower end portion 1| surrounding portions 58, 59 of the nozzle 55, and forming therewith, an annular orifice 12 at the lower end of the nozzle. Capsule wall forming material is extruded through said orifice continuously, as will be explained hereinafter.

Fixed to the upper end of sleeve 68 is a hopper 15, having a cylindrical wall 16, concentric with and spaced inwardly of wall 66 of the container 52.

The upper rim edges of walls 86, 16 are at the same level and are interconnected by an annular ring 11 closing the space therebetween. Said ring 11 has a pair of diametrically spaced openings 18, 19, and is provided with a spider 88 supporting an axial vertical sleeve 8| serving as a bearing for pipe 5 l. Sleeve 8| projects above container 52, and also projects into hopper 15, terminating short of the upper end of sleeve 68.

Fixed within container 52 and extending the length thereof is a vertical pipe 82 registering with opening 18. Within said pipe is an electric heater 83 of any suitable construction, the wiring 84 whereof, extends through said pipe and through a bushing 85 at the upper end of said opening 18.

There also extends through container 52, a vertical pipe 81 registering with opening 19. Said pipe 81 is formed with a plurality of longitudinally and peripherally spaced perforations 88, for the purpose hereinafter appearing. At the upper end of pipe 81'is a bearing 98 in which is journalled a rod 9| carrying a helically twisted bar 1 92. The upper end of rod 9| projects above container 52 and carries a pulley 93 connected by belt 94 to a pulley 95 on pipe 5|, and at the upper end of sleeve 8|.

Helical groove 53 is opposite to the twist of helical bar 92, for the purpose described below.

The operation of my improved apparatus will now be described:

The container is filled with water to surround the sleeve 68 and hopper 15. Hopper 15 is filled with a capsule wall forming material such as gelatin or any suitable plastic material.

The water in the container is kept warm by the'heater to keep the gelatin in liquid condition; and hot water is carried upwardly in perforated pipe 81 to keep the water at an even temperature. The heated water keeps the gelatin in liquid form to flow between pipe 5| and sleeve 68.

Motor I8 is started to rotate disc 28 and hence reciprocate plunger 40. The filling material within tank 42 passes through pipe 43, valve 39, into bore 35, and is forced downwardly through valve 36 and pipe 63. Pipe 5| is rotated by belt 49 to feed the gelatinous substance in the hopper downwardly to the orifice 12. Due to rotation of pipe- 5| and nozzle 55 fixed thereto, the emerging gelatin twists to make the connecting portions l5, while plunger 48 moves upwardly. When the plunger comes down however, material from pipe 63 distends the gelatin'to form a bulb or capsule, the twisting operation being interrupted, until the plunger starts moving up again, at which and the gelatinous material again starts twisting.

Means may be provided to harden the capsules as soon as they are formed. To this end, there is supported on frame |1, an electric fan 91 adapted to blow air at the orifice 12 where the capsules emerge from the apparatus. The fan 91 blowing on each capsule as it emerges from the nozzle hardens the same.

The gelatin being in a semi-liquid state when it leaves the nozzle is therefore plastic and forms itself into a solid homogeneous mass except when distended by a substance injected into it. Thus no seam results at either end of the formed capsule.

The fiared surface 49 of the nozzle helps shape the capsule when filling material is forced through pipe 63.

It will now be understood that the pump intermittently forces measured amounts or charges of filling material at intervals through pipe 63 into the extruded gelatin. The amounts of material in each charge may be adjusted by manipulating screws 3| to change the stroke of the plunger.

The lengths of the connectors may be regulated by adjusting the speed of motor l8. A wheel I80 rotatably supported on frame |1 below, and at one side of container 52, is adapted to carry away the string M of capsules as the string comes out of said container 52.

If desired, the connecting portions I5 may be severed to form individual capsules. Any suittime, the formed capsule drops due to its weight,

able cutting meansmay be employed such as for example rotary cutter blades 91a shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

It will now be understood that the walls of the capsules are seamless and hence may be made relatively thin to dissolve or rupture'quickly for releasing the medicament when taken internally or otherwise heated, and yet have the requisite strength .to permit ordinary handling without rupture.-

It is also seen from the above described operation of the formation of my improved seamless capsules that the capsules so formed will also be entirely free from air. This is of extreme importance when it is desired to fill the capsule with any substance which would deteriorate. or lose its vital properties in the presence of air.

. Figs.'8 and 9 show apparatus embodying the invention for forming capsules filled with powder or pulverized material. In said figures there is shown a container 52a comprising a bottom wall I02 formed with a central opening I03, and an upstanding cylindrical wall I04. Within the container 52a, furthermore, is a hopper I5 provided with a downwardly extending sleeve 68 projecting through the central opening I03 in the bottom wall. I02. The upper end of the hopper may be interconnected to, the cylindrical wall I04 by an annular ring 80 supporting a vertical axial sleeve 8| projecting above the container and also down into the hopper 15. The lower end 60a of the sleeve 68 is constricted or curved inwardly, as shown in the drawings.

Journalled within the sleeve 8| is a tubular member 5Ia having an external, helical groove 53a substantially throughout the major portion thereof. The upper end of the tubular member 5.Ia.projects somewhat above the sleeve 8| and carried by .said projecting portion is a pulley 95a connected by belt 94a to pulley 93a at the upper end of the rotary water circulating member. I06. n said rotary member is another pulley I08 connected by belt I09 to any suitable drive member for rotating the member I06 and the tubular member Ia simultaneously in the same direction.

The member 5Ia telescopes within the sleeve 68 and the lower end of said tubular member is constricted inwardly at the bottom end thereof to form a. tapering passage I I0 at the lower end of the nozzle edges below the bottom wall I02. The gelatinous substance within the hopper may thus pass between the tubular member 5la,

and the sleeve 60, being fed downwardly by rotationof the member 5Ia. The water in the bottom of the container 52a and surrounding the hopper keepsthe gelatinous substance warm while the capsules are being formed.

Means is provided to feed a powder or pulverized substance through the tubular member 5la' for filling the capsules. To this end, a hopper H2 receives the upper end'of the tubular member 5Ia. Extending through the tubular member 5Ia is a helically twisted bar H4 carried by a rod H5 disposed within the hopper H2. The helically twisted bar H4 serves to feed the powder downwardly upon rotation. On the rod H5 are agitating projections or arms H6. Any suitable means (not shown) may be provided for intermittently rotating the rod H5. When the rod H5 and the bar H4 rotate, the powdered material will distend the mass I of gelatinous substance emerging from the passage or orifice H0 to form a capsule. When the rod H5 and its bar H4 are at rest, the formed capsule will drop by gravity and rotation oi. the tubular member lila will cause the tube of gelatinous material to twist. The pressure of the powdered material to be severed in any suitable manner to separate Y the capsules.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my inventiomI claim new and desire to secure by Letters Patent: 1. In apparatus of the character described for forming seamless capsules, a hopper adapted to contain a material for forming capsule walls, a

tube extending therefrom and communicating therewith, a second tube extending through said first tube, means for intermittently supplying charges of capsule filling material through said second tube, and means for rotating said second tube.

2. In apparatus of the character described for forming seamless capsules, a hopper adapted to contain a material for forming capsule walls, a tube extending therefrom and communicating therewith, a second tube extending through said first tube, means for intermittently supplying charges of capsule filling material through said second tube, said second tube having an external helical groove, and means'for rotating said second tube about its axis.

3. In apparatus of the character described for forming seamless capsules, a hopper adapted to contain a material for forming capsule walls, a tube extending therefrom and communicating therewith, a second tube extending through said hopper and first tube, means for intermittently -supplying charges of capsule filling material through said second tube, said means comprising a helical member within said second tube, and means for rotating said helical member.

4. In apparatus of the character described for forming seamless capsules, a hopper adapted to contain a material for forming capsule walls, a tube extending therefrom and communicating therewith, a second tube extending through said hopper and first tube, means for intermittently supplying charges of capsule filling material forming material to the space between said tubes,

means for forcing said material through the annular orifice at the adjacent ends of said tubes to continuously' extrude said material, means for intermittently feeding charges of capsule filling material through the inner of said spaced tubes and into said wall forming material, to form a string of capsules connected by connectors of wall forming material, and means for axially rotating the inner of said tubes.

6. A process for making seamless capsules com- ,prising extruding through an orifice, plastic capsule wall forming material in fluid state, injecting into said fluid wall forming material, at intervals, charges of capsule filling material and immediately thereafter setting the wall forming material into and discharging the same from the space between said tubes, said outer tube having a discharge opening for said material terminating in substantially the same plane as the discharge opening of the inner tube, and means for intermittently feeding charges of capsule filling material from the discharge opening of the inner tube.

9. A process for making seamless capsules comprising continuously extruding through an orifice, plastic capsule wall forming material in fluid state, injecting into said extruded wall forming material at intervals, under pressure suiflcient to thereafter setting the wall forming material whereby a seamless capsule is formed.

11. Apparatus for forming seamless capsules comprising an inner tube having a discharge opening at one end and an outer tube surrounding said inner tube and spaced therefrormmeans for feeding fluid capsule wall forming material into and continuously discharging the same from the space between said tubes, said outer tube having a discharge opening for said material terminating in substantially the same plane as the discharge opening of the inner tube, and means for intermittently feeding charges of capsule filling material from the discharge opening of the inner tube into the extruded wall forming material.

OLAF I. WARING. 

